The old central building
of Wordsley Hospital was a former workhouse. Its central block, with two shaped
gables and tower, was built in 1904. The land on which it stands was originally
called Stream Piece and was owned by Thomas Downing. On
5th April 1776 he sold the land to the Earl of Dudley for £173.17s. The
original workhouse was administered by Kingswinford parishioners.

Following the Introduction
of the Poor Law Reform Act in 1834, it became a Union Workhouse and took inmates
from Kingswinford to the Birmingham boundaries including Stourbridge, Cradley
and Halesowen. During the nineteenth century extra land was purchased and in
1837 £3950 was spent on new buildings. Some of these buildings are still
in use at the present hospital. From the main road (A491) the original cell
blocks can still be seen.

Board Room at Wordsley
Hospital c.1999

The Board Room was built
in 1861 to serve the Union Workhouse, which attracted inmates from a wide area
and was administered by the Board of Guardians. The former Workhouse was used
as a military hospital during both World Wars. During the Second World War the
Americans paid to have the annexe built for their wounded soldiers and it was
they who introduced the new plastic surgery techniques for which the hospital
was a noted centre of excellence.

Following the expansion
of the more modern Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Health Authority began transferring
services away from Wordsley during late 2004 and early 2005. The hospital is
now closed and the land is to be redeveloped.